Sunday, July 3, 2016

Orangeburg, South Carolina -- Former Claflin University women's basketball player Shaniece Brown signs a professional contract to play with Club Badel 1862 located in Macedonia. Club Badel is one of 11 teams that play in the MŽRKL international women's basketball league.

The contract is for the 2016-17 season.

Brown, a 5-4, guard from Rochester, N.Y., led Claflin in scoring the past two seasons and was named to the SIAC Second team all-conference in 2016.

"This has always been a dream of mine, to play professional basketball and now I have my chance," said Brown. "I'm very excited and truly blessed for this opportunity. I just want to pave the way for others who follow me and to show them to never give up on their dream."

During the 2015-16 season she averaged 12.2 points, 3.5 assists while shooting 85.7 percent from the charity stripe. She finished the season ranked 42nd in the nation in free-throw percentage and was ranked 2nd in free-throw percentage, 5th in assists and 10th in scoring, in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).

"I am extremely happy for Shaniece," head coach Deont'a McChester said. "She deserves this opportunity; she has represented our program and university with high character on and off the court. Every coach wants to see their athletes live there dreams and I am very blessed to help Shaniece with hers." McChester continued, "My assistant coach Nanyamka Moore helped develop Shaniece to think and work like a professional and her impact can't go unnoticed."

Brown is the first Claflin player under coach McChester tutelage to sign a professional contract.